Ikigai : a mindful life : the happiness of always being busy

Ikigai :  Roughly translated means “a reason for being” or “the happiness of always being busy”

Whilst studying Ikigai I have come across some info on how important close bonds, made by being part of a local community and the benefits from this community, are for our wellbeing and furthermore, our longevity. 

Okinawa in Japan has one of the highest rates of healthy longevity on our planet and is identified as one of the 5 Blue Zones of the World where people live the longest and healthiest.  

In regard to this wonderful healthy longevity, there are a number of factors that influence this and one of them is their ‘moai” - which roughly translates into “a group of lifelong friends”.  Moai has its origins in hard times when farmers would get together and share best practices and help one another with meagre harvests. 

Members of a moai make a monthly contribution to the group.  They use this to fund meetings, dinners and games/hobbies.  Whilst the funds are used for activities to bring the community together, if there is money left over one member (on a rotating basis) receives a set amount from the surplus as way of help to maintain emotional and financial stability.  If a member hits financial trouble he or she can get an advance from the groups savings.  This feeling of belonging and support gives the individual a sense of security and helps increase life expectancy. 

(the above is an excerpt from Ikigai, The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles)

Living a long and happy life can come down to some very simple and grounding principles.  I have been giving this a great deal of thought recently. These simple principles include “connection” (as mentioned above), being “active” with regular moderate exercise, (walking, gardening etc), “embracing nature” and the natural, a “healthy moderate diet’ and “good sleep”.

I have always had strong wellbeing principles at the core of my coaching and I am keen to push this more so given the recent events.  I am also keen to do my best in regard to walking my talk with this - practising Ikigai.  How about you?